My Favourite Expeditions: Everest

29th May 1953, two people stood at the top of the world for the first time. No other human had climbed this high. They had battled the fight of their lives. Every step a battle. Every suffocating gasp for oxygen. The wind buffeted them and threw shards of ice in their faces. Both men knowing safety meant turning back. They had a job to do, to complete the agonising climb. The pair had conquered the last technical section of the ascent. A 12 metre wall of rock and ice (now called the Hillary step), which took all strength and will power to overcome. In a rare break of 50s reserves the standard handshake went out the window, with the excitement of the summit the two men bear hugged.

They took photos and waved the flags. Then they searched the area for signs of George Mallory and Andy Irvine, who’d gone missing in 1924. Hillary the left a crucifix and Tenzing left some boiled sweets. They spent 15 minutes on the roof of the world.

About Matthew

This is an adventure and travel blog, following the expeditions of Matthew Kettlewell. He will pass on useful tips and stories of his travels.
Matthew has walked Central America carrying everything he needed on his back. Travelled one of the worlds deadliest roads, The Ho Chi Minh trail through South East Asia. Worked with an animal rehabilitation centre in South Africa to fight against poaching.
2017
Travelling to Greenland for some first ascents of some unclimbed peaks!
Running 100km in 24hrs through the Sahara!
and more is being planned...